Accumulation of PUCCH Repetitions to Increase the Reliability of PUCCH Reception

ABSTRACT

A base station (BS) may receive a plurality of repetitions of a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) from a user equipment (UE), and accumulate the received repetitions to obtain a resultant signal. The ability to accumulate repetitions enables the base station to experience a higher probability of successful recovery of the PUCCH payload bits than if decoding were based on the reception of a non-repeated transmission of the PUCCH. The base station may configure the number of repetitions, the temporal gap between the repetitions, and mode of repetition of the PUCCH. In an intra-slot mode, more than one copy may be received from each configured slot, with or without frequency hopping. In an inter-slot mode, one copy is received per configured slot. Different repetitions may be transmitted by the UE in different directions, according to a spatial consistency pattern.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of wireless communication,and more particularly, to mechanisms enabling a base station to receivemultiple repetitions of a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), toincrease the reliability of the PUCCH transmission.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

To increase the reliability of a transmission, a wireless device mayrepeat the transmission a number of times. A receiving device mayaccumulate the repeated transmissions (assuming it knows when thetransmissions occur), and thus, achieve an increased likelihood ofsuccessful decoding of the transmission payload.

SUMMARY

In one set of embodiments, a method for operating a base station (BS)may include the following operations. The method may include receiving,from a user equipment (UE), a plurality of repetitions of a PhysicalUplink Control Channel (PUCCH) over one or more slots. The base stationmay configure to the one or more slots to be used for said transmittingthe PUCCH repetitions, e.g., by sending configuration information to theUE.

The base station may accumulate the received repetitions of the PUCCH(or a subset thereof) to obtain an resultant signal, and decode theresultant signal to recover the payload bits of the PUCCH. Theaccumulation of repetitions allows the base station to experience ahigher probability of successful decoding of the PUCCH payload bits thanif decoding were based on a single transmission (i.e., non-repeatedtransmission) of the PUCCH

In some embodiments, two or more of the repetitions may occur in a firstof the one or more slots. Furthermore, a second of the one or more slotsmay include two or more of the repetitions.

In some embodiments, the one or more slots may comprise a plurality ofslots. In one or more of these embodiments, a time between successiverepetitions of the plurality of repetitions of the plurality ofrepetitions is constant and not interrupted at slot boundaries.

In some embodiments, the one or more slots may comprise a plurality ofslots. In one or more of these embodiments, a time between successiverepetitions of the plurality of repetitions is constant within each ofthe slots, and none of the repetitions of the plurality of repetitionsstraddles a slot boundary.

In some embodiments, the method may include transmitting a RadioResource Control (RRC) configuration message to the UE. The RRCconfiguration message may direct the UE to transmit the plurality ofrepetitions of the PUCCH.

In some embodiments, the RRC configuration message may also indicate atime offset between successive repetitions of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method may also include transmittingconfiguration information to the UE, where the configuration informationdirects the UE to perform said transmitting the plurality of repetitionswith frequency hopping.

In some embodiments, the method may also include, prior to saidreceiving the plurality of repetitions, receiving, from the UE, anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when the UE'stransmit power changes between successive repetitions of said pluralityof repetitions.

In some embodiments, the method may also include, prior to saidreceiving the plurality of repetitions, receiving, from the UE, anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when the UE'stransmit power changes within a repetition of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method may also include, prior to saidreceiving the plurality of repetitions, receiving, from the UE, anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when duplexingdirection changes between successive repetitions of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method may also include transmitting, to theUE, a Medium Access Control (MAC) message that dynamically configuresthe UE to transmit the plurality of repetitions of the PUCCH. The MACmessage may include a number of repetitions of the PUCCH to betransmitted by the UE.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include the cell ID of aserving cell to which the UE is directed to transmit the repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include identification ofa bandwidth part in which the UE is to transmit the repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include a PUCCH resourceID for a PUCCH resource that is to be used by the UE to transmit therepetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may direct the UE to update morethan one PUCCH resource with said number of repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may direct the UE to update allPUCCHs in a plurality of component carriers (CCs) with said number ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may direct the UE to update allPUCCHs in a plurality of bandwidth parts with said number ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, said receiving a plurality of repetitions of thePUCCH may include receiving N repetitions of the PUCCH. The Nrepetitions of the PUCCH may be partitioned into M segments, with eachof the M segments including a corresponding K of the N repetitions.Different segments of the M segments may be associated with differentbeams or precodings.

In some embodiments, the method may also include transmittingconfiguration information to the UE prior to said receiving Nrepetitions of the PUCCH, where the configuration information indicatesM and K to the UE.

In some embodiments, the method may also include receiving a preferredvalue of M and a preferred value of K from the UE prior to saidreceiving N repetitions of the PUCCH.

In some embodiments, said receiving the plurality of repetitions of thePUCCH is performed according to an inter-slot repetition mode and ashort PUCCH format.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a long format, thebase station may be operable to configure the UE to transmit theplurality of repetitions of the PUCCH according to an intra-slotrepetition mode or an inter-slot repetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a long format, thebase station may be operable to configure the UE to transmit theplurality of repetitions of the PUCCH only according to an inter-slotrepetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a long format, thebase station may be operable to configure the UE to transmit theplurality of repetitions of the PUCCH according to an inter-slotrepetition mode or according to an intra-slot repetition mode if thenumber of symbols in the PUCCH is less than a threshold value.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a short format, thebase station may be operable to configure the UE to transmit theplurality of repetitions of the PUCCH according to an intra-slotrepetition mode or an inter-slot repetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a short format, thebase station may be operable to configure the UE to transmit theplurality of repetitions of the PUCCH only according to an intra-slotrepetition mode.

As noted above, the base station may transmit a plurality of repetitionsof a PUCCH over one or more slots. In the present discussion, we referto this plurality as the “first plurality” and this PUCCH as the “firstPUCCH”. In some embodiments, the method may also include, prior to saidtransmitting the first plurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH,transmitting, to the UE, configuration information indicating a firstset and a second set of transmission parameters. After receiving thefirst plurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH, a second pluralityrepetitions of a second PUCCH may be received in one or more additionalslots. The first set of transmission parameters may include a firsttiming advance and/or a first transmission power for the UE'stransmission of the first plurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH,and the second set of transmission parameters may include a secondtiming advance and/or a second transmission power for the UE'stransmission of the second plurality of repetitions of the second PUCCH.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present subject matter can be obtainedwhen the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment isconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate examples of wireless communication systems,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a base station in communication with auser equipment device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a block diagram of a user equipmentdevice, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a block diagram of a base station,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a user equipment 600, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a base station 700, according to someembodiments. The base station 700 may be used to communicate with userequipment 600 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates a number of features associated with transmission ofa Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), according to someembodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates two intra-slot modes and an inter-slot mode for PUCCHrepetition, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a repetition offset between successive repetitionsof a PUCCH, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates frequency hopping in an intra-slot mode of PUCCHrepetition, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates the structure of a Medium Access Control-ControlElement for dynamic configuration of a number of PUCCH repetitions,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of spatial consistency in thetransmission of PUCCH repetitions, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method for operating a user equipment to transmitPUCCH repetitions, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method for operating a base station to receivePUCCH repetitions, according to some embodiments.

While the features described herein are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof areshown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described indetail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription thereto are not intended to be limiting to the particularform disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the subject matter as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Acronyms

The following acronyms are used in this disclosure.

3GPP: Third Generation Partnership Project

3GPP2: Third Generation Partnership Project 2

5G NR: 5^(th) Generation New Radio

BW: Bandwidth

BWP: Bandwidth Part

CQI: Channel Quality Indictor

DCI: Downlink Control Information

DL: Downlink

eNB (or eNodeB): Evolved Node B, i.e., the base station of 3GPP LTE

gNB (or gNodeB): next Generation NodeB, i.e., the base station of 5G NR

GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications

HARQ: Hybrid ARQ

LTE: Long Term Evolution

LTE-A: LTE-Advanced

MAC: Media Access Control

MAC-CE: MAC Control Element

NR: New Radio

NR-DC: NR Dual Connectivity

NW: Network

RAT: Radio Access Technology

RLC: Radio Link Control

RLF: Radio Link Failure

RLM: Radio Link Monitoring

RNTI: Radio Network Temporary Identifier

RRC: Radio Resource Control

RRM: Radio Resource Management

RS: Reference Signal

SR: Scheduling Request

SSB: Synchronization Signal Block

UE: User Equipment

UL: Uplink

UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System

Terms

The following is a glossary of terms used in this disclosure:

Memory Medium—Any of various types of memory devices or storage devices.The term “memory medium” is intended to include an installation medium,e.g., a CD-ROM, floppy disks, or tape device; a computer system memoryor random access memory such as DRAM, DDR RAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, RambusRAM, etc.; a non-volatile memory such as a Flash, magnetic media, e.g.,a hard drive, or optical storage; registers, or other similar types ofmemory elements, etc. The memory medium may include other types ofmemory as well or combinations thereof. In addition, the memory mediummay be located in a first computer system in which the programs areexecuted, or may be located in a second different computer system whichconnects to the first computer system over a network, such as theInternet. In the latter instance, the second computer system may provideprogram instructions to the first computer for execution. The term“memory medium” may include two or more memory mediums which may residein different locations, e.g., in different computer systems that areconnected over a network. The memory medium may store programinstructions (e.g., embodied as computer programs) that may be executedby one or more processors.

Carrier Medium—a memory medium as described above, as well as a physicaltransmission medium, such as a bus, network, and/or other physicaltransmission medium that conveys signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals.

Programmable Hardware Element—includes various hardware devicescomprising multiple programmable function blocks connected via aprogrammable interconnect. Examples include FPGAs (Field ProgrammableGate Arrays), PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), FPOAs (FieldProgrammable Object Arrays), and CPLDs (Complex PLDs). The programmablefunction blocks may range from fine grained (combinatorial logic or lookup tables) to coarse grained (arithmetic logic units or processorcores). A programmable hardware element may also be referred to as“reconfigurable logic”.

Computer System—any of various types of computing or processing systems,including a personal computer system (PC), mainframe computer system,workstation, network appliance, Internet appliance, personal digitalassistant (PDA), personal communication device, smart phone, televisionsystem, grid computing system, or other device or combinations ofdevices. In general, the term “computer system” can be broadly definedto encompass any device (or combination of devices) having at least oneprocessor that executes instructions from a memory medium.

User Equipment (UE) (or “UE Device”)—any of various types of computersystems devices which are mobile or portable and which performs wirelesscommunications. Examples of UE devices include mobile telephones orsmart phones (e.g., iPhone™, Android™-based phones), portable gamingdevices (e.g., Nintendo DST™, PlayStation Portable™, Gameboy Advance™,iPhone™), wearable devices (e.g., smart watch, smart glasses), laptops,PDAs, portable Internet devices, music players, data storage devices, orother handheld devices, etc. In general, the term “UE” or “UE device”can be broadly defined to encompass any electronic, computing, and/ortelecommunications device (or combination of devices) which is easilytransported by a user and capable of wireless communication.

Base Station—The term “Base Station” has the full breadth of itsordinary meaning, and at least includes a wireless communication stationinstalled at a fixed location and used to communicate as part of awireless telephone system or radio system.

Processing Element—refers to any of various elements or combinations ofelements. Processing elements include, for example, circuits such as anASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), portions or circuits ofindividual processor cores, entire processor cores, individualprocessors, programmable hardware devices such as a field programmablegate array (FPGA), and/or larger portions of systems that includemultiple processors.

Automatically—refers to an action or operation performed by a computersystem (e.g., software executed by the computer system) or device (e.g.,circuitry, programmable hardware elements, ASICs, etc.), without userinput directly specifying or performing the action or operation. Thusthe term “automatically” is in contrast to an operation being manuallyperformed or specified by the user, where the user provides input todirectly perform the operation. An automatic procedure may be initiatedby input provided by the user, but the subsequent actions that areperformed “automatically” are not specified by the user, i.e., are notperformed “manually”, where the user specifies each action to perform.For example, a user filling out an electronic form by selecting eachfield and providing input specifying information (e.g., by typinginformation, selecting check boxes, radio selections, etc.) is fillingout the form manually, even though the computer system must update theform in response to the user actions. The form may be automaticallyfilled out by the computer system where the computer system (e.g.,software executing on the computer system) analyzes the fields of theform and fills in the form without any user input specifying the answersto the fields. As indicated above, the user may invoke the automaticfilling of the form, but is not involved in the actual filling of theform (e.g., the user is not manually specifying answers to fields butrather they are being automatically completed). The presentspecification provides various examples of operations beingautomatically performed in response to actions the user has taken.

FIGS. 1-3: Communication System

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate exemplary (and simplified) wirelesscommunication systems. It is noted that the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2 aremerely examples of certain possible systems, and various embodiments maybe implemented in any of various ways, as desired.

The wireless communication system of FIG. 1 includes a base station 102Awhich communicates over a transmission medium with one or more userequipment (UE) devices 106A, 106B, etc., through 106N. Each of the userequipment devices may be referred to herein as “user equipment” (UE). Inthe wireless communication system of FIG. 2, in addition to the basestation 102A, base station 102B also communicates (e.g., simultaneouslyor concurrently) over a transmission medium with the UE devices 106A,106B, etc., through 106N.

The base stations 102A and 102B may be base transceiver stations (BTSs)or cell sites, and may include hardware that enables wirelesscommunication with the user devices 106A through 106N. Each base station102 may also be equipped to communicate with a core network 100 (e.g.,base station 102A may be coupled to core network 100A, while basestation 102B may be coupled to core network 100B), which may be a corenetwork of a cellular service provider. Each core network 100 may becoupled to one or more external networks (such as external network 108),which may include the Internet, a Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN), or any other network. Thus, the base station 102A may facilitatecommunication between the user devices and/or between the user devicesand the network 100A; in the system of FIG. 2, the base station 102B mayfacilitate communication between the user devices and/or between theuser devices and the network 100B.

The base stations 102A and 102B and the user devices may be configuredto communicate over the transmission medium using any of various radioaccess technologies (RATs), also referred to as wireless communicationtechnologies, or telecommunication standards, such as GSM. UMTS (WCDMA),LTE, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), 3GPP2 CDMA2000 (e.g., 1×RTT, 1×EV-DO, HRPD,eHRPD), Wi-Fi. WiMAX etc.

For example, base station 102A and core network 100A may operateaccording to a first cellular communication standard (e.g., LTE) whilebase station 102B and core network 100B operate according to a second(e.g., different) cellular communication standard (e.g., GSM, UMTS,and/or one or more CDMA2000 cellular communication standards). The twonetworks may be controlled by the same network operator (e.g., cellularservice provider or “carrier”), or by different network operators. Inaddition, the two networks may be operated independently of one another(e.g., if they operate according to different cellular communicationstandards), or may be operated in a somewhat coupled or tightly coupledmanner.

Note also that while two different networks may be used to support twodifferent cellular communication technologies, such as illustrated inthe network configuration shown in FIG. 2, other network configurationsimplementing multiple cellular communication technologies are alsopossible. As one example, base stations 102A and 102B might operateaccording to different cellular communication standards but couple tothe same core network. As another example, multi-mode base stationscapable of simultaneously supporting different cellular communicationtechnologies (e.g., LTE and CDMA 1×RTT, GSM and UMTS, or any othercombination of cellular communication technologies) might be coupled toa core network that also supports the different cellular communicationtechnologies. Any of various other network deployment scenarios are alsopossible.

As a further possibility, it is also possible that base station 102A andbase station 102B may operate according to the same wirelesscommunication technology (or an overlapping set of wirelesscommunication technologies). For example, base station 102A and corenetwork 100A may be operated by one cellular service providerindependently of base station 102B and core network 1008, which may beoperated by a different (e.g., competing) cellular service provider.Thus in this case, despite utilizing similar and possibly compatiblecellular communication technologies, the UE devices 106A-106N mightcommunicate with the base stations 102A-102B independently, possibly byutilizing separate subscriber identities to communicate with differentcarriers' networks.

A UE 106 may be capable of communicating using multiple wirelesscommunication standards. For example, a UE 106 might be configured tocommunicate using either or both of a 3GPP cellular communicationstandard (such as LTE) or a 3GPP2 cellular communication standard (suchas a cellular communication standard in the CDMA2000 family of cellularcommunication standards). As another example, a UE 106 might beconfigured to communicate using different 3GPP cellular communicationstandards (such as two or more of GSM, UMTS, LTE, or LTE-A). Thus, asnoted above, a UE 106 might be configured to communicate with basestation 102A (and/or other base stations) according to a first cellularcommunication standard (e.g., LTE) and might also be configured tocommunicate with base station 102B (and/or other base stations)according to a second cellular communication standard (e.g., one or moreCDMA2000 cellular communication standards, UMTS, GSM, etc.).

Base stations 102A and 102B and other base stations operating accordingto the same or different cellular communication standards may thus beprovided as one or more networks of cells, which may provide continuousor nearly continuous overlapping service to UEs 106A-106N and similardevices over a wide geographic area via one or more cellularcommunication standards.

A UE 106 might also or alternatively be configured to communicate usingWLAN, Bluetooth, one or more global navigational satellite systems(GNSS, e.g., GPS or GLONASS), one and/or more mobile televisionbroadcasting standards (e.g., ATSC-M/H or DVB-H), etc. Othercombinations of wireless communication standards (including more thantwo wireless communication standards) are also possible.

FIG. 3 illustrates user equipment 106 (e.g., one of the devices 106Athrough 106N) in communication with a base station 102 (e.g., one of thebase stations 102A or 102B). The UE 106 may be a device with wirelessnetwork connectivity such as a mobile phone, a hand-held device, acomputer or a tablet, a wearable device or virtually any type ofwireless device.

The UE may include a processor that is configured to execute programinstructions stored in memory. The UE may perform any of the methodembodiments described herein by executing such stored instructions.Alternatively, or in addition, the UE may include a programmablehardware element such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) that isconfigured to perform any of the method embodiments described herein, orany portion of any of the method embodiments described herein.

The UE 100 may be configured to communicate using any of multiplewireless communication protocols. For example, the UE 106 may beconfigured to communicate using two or more of GSM, UMTS (W-CDMA,TD-SCDMA, etc.), CDMA2000 (1×RTT, 1×EV-DO, HRPD, eHRPD, etc.), LTE,LTE-A, WLAN, or GNSS. Other combinations of wireless communicationstandards are also possible.

The UE 106 may include one or more antennas for communicating using oneor more wireless communication protocols. Within the UE 106, one or moreparts of a receive and/or transmit chain may be shared between multiplewireless communication standards; for example, the UE 106 might beconfigured to communicate using cither (or both) of GSM or LTE using asingle shared radio. The shared radio may include a single antenna, ormay include multiple antennas (e.g., for MIMO or beamforming) forperforming wireless communications. MIMO is an acronym for Multi-inputMultiple-Output.

FIG. 4—Example of Block Diagram of a UE

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a block diagram of a UE 106. As shown,the UE 106 may include a system on chip (SOC) 300, which may includeportions for various purposes. For example, as shown, the SOC 300 mayinclude processor(s) 302 which may execute program instructions for theUE 106 and display circuitry 304 which may perform graphics processingand provide display signals to the display 345. The processor(s) 302 mayalso be coupled to memory management unit (MMU) 340, which may beconfigured to receive addresses from the processor(s) 302 and translatethose addresses to locations in memory (e.g., memory 306, read onlymemory (ROM) 350, NAND flash memory 310) and/or to other circuits ordevices, such as the display circuitry 304, radio 330, connector I/F320, and/or display 345. The MMU 340 may be configured to perform memoryprotection and page table translation or set up. In some embodiments,the MMU 340 may be included as a portion of the processor(s) 302.

As shown, the SOC 300 may be coupled to various other circuits of the UE106. For example, the UE 106 may include various types of memory (e.g.,including Flash memory 310), a connector interface 320 (e.g., forcoupling to a computer system, dock, charging station, etc.), thedisplay 345, and radio 330.

The radio 330 may include one or more RF chains. Each RF chain mayinclude a transmit chain, a receive chain, or both. For example, radio330 may include two RF chains to support dual connectivity with two basestations (or two cells). The radio may be configured to support wirelesscommunication according to one or more wireless communication standards,e.g., one or more of GSM, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, WCDMA, CDMA2000, Bluetooth,Wi-Fi, GPS, etc.

The radio 330 couples to antenna subsystem 335, which includes one ormore antennas. For example, the antenna subsystem 335 may include aplurality of antennas to support applications such as dual connectivityor MIMO or beamforming. The antenna subsystem 335 transmits and receivesradio signals to/from one or more base stations or devices through theradio propagation medium, which is typically the atmosphere.

In some embodiments, the processor(s) 302 may include a basebandprocessor to generate uplink baseband signals and/or to process downlinkbaseband signals. The processor(s) 302 may be configured to perform dataprocessing according to one or more wireless telecommunicationstandards, e.g., one or more of GSM, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, WCDMA, CDMA2000,Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, etc.

The UE 106 may also include one or more user interface elements. Theuser interface elements may include any of various elements, such asdisplay 345 (which may be a touchscreen display), a keyboard (which maybe a discrete keyboard or may be implemented as part of a touchscreendisplay), a mouse, a microphone and/or speakers, one or more cameras,one or more sensors, one or more buttons, sliders, and/or dials, and/orany of various other elements capable of providing information to a userand/or receiving/interpreting user input.

As shown, the UE 106 may also include one or more subscriber identitymodules (SIMs) 360. Each of the one or more SIMs may be implemented asan embedded SIM (eSIM), in which case the SIM may be implemented indevice hardware and/or software. For example, in some embodiments, theUE 106 may include an embedded UICC (eUICC), e.g., a device which isbuilt into the UE 106 and is not removable. The eUICC may beprogrammable, such that one or more eSIMs may be implemented on theeUICC. In other embodiments, the eSIM may be installed in UE 106software. e.g., as program instructions stored on a memory medium (suchas memory 306 or Flash 310) executing on a processor (such as processor302) in the UE 106. As one example, a SIM 360 may be an applicationwhich executes on a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).Alternatively, or in addition, one or more of the SIMs 360 may beimplemented as removeable SIM cards.

The processor 302 of the UE device 106 may be configured to implementpart or all of the methods described herein, e.g., by executing programinstructions stored on a memory medium (e.g., a non-transitorycomputer-readable memory medium). In other embodiments, processor 302may be configured as or include: a programmable hardware element, suchas an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array); or an ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit); or a combination thereof.

FIG. 5—Example of a Base Station

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a base station 102. It is notedthat the base station of FIG. 5 is merely one example of a possible basestation. As shown, the base station 102 may include processor(s) 404which may execute program instructions for the base station 102. Theprocessor(s) 404 may also be coupled to memory management unit (MMU)440, which may be configured to receive addresses from the processor(s)404 and translate those addresses to locations in memory (e.g., memory460 and read only memory ROM 450) or to other circuits or devices.

The base station 102 may include at least one network port 470. Thenetwork port 470 may be configured to couple to a telephone network andprovide access (for a plurality of devices, such as UE devices 106) tothe telephone network, as described above in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The network port 470 (or an additional network port) may also oralternatively be configured to couple to a cellular network, e.g., acore network of a cellular service provider. The core network mayprovide mobility related services and/or other services to a pluralityof devices, such as UE devices 106. In some cases, the network port 470may couple to a telephone network via the core network, and/or the corenetwork may provide a telephone network (e.g., among other UE devicesserviced by the cellular service provider).

The base station 102 may include a radio 430 having one or more RFchains. Each RF chain may include a transmit chain, a receive chain, orboth. (For example, the base station 102 may include at least one RFchain per sector or cell.) The radio 430 couples to antenna subsystem434, which includes one or more antennas. Multiple antennas would beneeded, e.g., to support applications such as MIMO or beamforming. Theantenna subsystem 434 transmits and receives radio signals to/from UEsthrough the radio propagation medium (typically the atmosphere).

In some embodiments, the processor(s) 404 may include a basebandprocessor to generate downlink baseband signals and/or to process uplinkbaseband signals. The baseband processor 430 may be configured tooperate according to one or more wireless telecommunication standards,including, but not limited to, GSM, LTE, WCDMA, CDMA2000, etc.

The processor(s) 404 of the base station 102 may be configured toimplement part or all of the methods described herein, e.g., byexecuting program instructions stored on a memory medium (e.g., anon-transitory computer-readable memory medium). In some embodiments,the processor(s) 404 may include: a programmable hardware element, suchas an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array); or an ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit); or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, a wireless user equipment (UE) device 600 may beconfigured as shown in FIG. 6. UE device 600 may include: a radiosubsystem 605 for performing wireless communication; and a processingelement 610 operatively coupled to the radio subsystem. (UE device 600may also include any subset of the UE features described above, e.g., inconnection with FIGS. 1-4.)

The radio subsystem 605 may include one or more RF chains, e.g., asvariously described above. Each RF chain may be configured to receivesignals from the radio propagation channel and/or transmit signals ontothe radio propagation channel. Thus, each RF chain may include atransmit chain and/or a receive chain. The radio subsystem 605 may becoupled to one or more antennas (or, one or more arrays of antennas) tofacilitate signal transmission and reception. Each RF chain (or, some ofthe RF chains) may be tunable to a desired frequency, thus allowing theRF chain to receive or transmit at different frequencies at differenttimes.

The processing element 610 may be coupled to the radio subsystem, andmay be configured as variously described above. (For example, processingelement may be realized by processor(s)302.) The processing element maybe configured to control the state of each RF chain in the radiosubsystem.

In some embodiments, the processing element may include one or morebaseband processors to (a) generate baseband signals to be transmittedby the radio subsystem and/or (b) process baseband signals provided bythe radio subsystem.

In a dual connectivity mode of operation, the processing element maydirect a first RF chain to communicate with a first base station using afirst radio access technology and direct a second RF chain tocommunicate with a second base station using a second radio accesstechnology. For example, the first RF chain may communicate with an LTEeNB, and the second RF chain may communicate with a gNB of 5G New Radio(NR). The link with the LTE eNB may be referred to as the LTE branch.The link with the gNB may be referred to as the NR branch. In someembodiments, the processing element may include a first subcircuit forbaseband processing with respect to the LTE branch and a secondsubcircuit for baseband processing with respect to the NR branch.

The processing element 610 may be further configured as variouslydescribed in the sections below.

In some embodiments, a wireless base station 700 of a wireless network(not shown) may be configured as shown in FIG. 7. The wireless basestation may include: a radio subsystem 705 for performing wirelesscommunication over a radio propagation channel; and a processing element710 operatively coupled to the radio subsystem. (The wireless basestation may also include any subset of the base station featuresdescribed above, e.g., the features described above in connection withFIG. 5.)

The radio subsystem 710 may include one or more RF chains. Each RF chainmay be tunable to a desired frequency, thus allowing the RF chain toreceive or transmit at different frequencies at different times. Theradio subsystem 710 may be coupled to an antenna subsystem, includingone or more antennas, e.g., an array of antenna, or a plurality ofantenna arrays. The radio subsystem may employ the antenna subsystem totransmit and receive radio signals to/from radio wave propagationmedium.

The processing element 710 may be realized as variously described above.For example, in one embodiment, processing element 710 may be realizedby processor(s) 404. In some embodiments, the processing element mayinclude one or more baseband processors to: (a) generate basebandsignals to be transmitted by the radio subsystem, and/or, (b) processbaseband signals provided by the radio subsystem.

The processing element 710 may be configured to perform any of the basestation method embodiments described herein.

Enhancing the Reliability of PUCCH Transmission

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, a system design for thePhysical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) may include one or more of thefollowing features. First, the system design may allow a number ofdifferent PUCCH formats, e.g., to accommodate different types of UEs, ordifferent application scenarios. Second, slot aggregation may be allowedfor transmission of the PUCCH. Third, a beam used by the UE to transmitthe PUCCH may be changed via dynamic signaling to the UE, e.g., via aMedium Access Control-Control Element (MAC-CE). Fourth, a MAC-CE may beused to activate a particular beam for a particular PUCCH resource.

Each of the PUCCH formats may have a corresponding constraint on thenumber of symbols over which the PUCCH is to be transmitted and acorresponding constraint on the number of payload bits to be carried inthe PUCCH. The formats may be divided into two categories with respectto duration: Short and Long. For example, in the Formats of FIG. 8,Format 0 and Format 2 are short formats since they are transmitted over1 or 2 symbols; and the remaining formats are long formats since theyare transmitted over four or more symbols.

When PUCCH slot aggregation is employed, a PUCCH may be transmittedrepeatedly over a number of slots, with each slot including only onerepetition of the PUCCH. (In alternative embodiments, each slot mayinclude more than one repetition of the PUCCH.) The parameter nrofSlotsmay be configured by signaling from the network, e.g., by Radio ResourceControl (RRC) signaling. In one embodiment, nrofSlots may configured aspart of PUCCH-FormatConfig in PUCCH-Config.

In some embodiments, the UE may apply a beam to each repetition of thePUCCH. Different beams may be applied to different repetitions. Thenetwork may change the PUCCH beam used by the UE, e.g., by sending a MACCE to the UE. Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling (to the UE) may beused to configure a list of PUCCH-SpatialRelationInfo in PUCCH-Config,e.g., a list of beams or precoders to be used for PUCCH transmission.(The UE includes an array of antennas. An uplink signal may betransmitted with different weights through different antennas of thearray, to achieve beamforming or precoded transmission. The vector ofweights applied to the signal determines the beam direction.) The UEstores the list. The MAC CE may be used to select or activate one of thebeams in the list. In an alternative embodiment, the MAC CE may be usedto select or active more than one of the beams in the list.

In some embodiments, the MAC CE may be used to select or activate aparticular beam for a particular PUCCH resource. In one embodiment, onlyone beam may be configured for a PUCCH resource. In other embodiments,more than one beam may be configured for a PUCCH resource.

In some embodiments, the UE may be configured for multi-TRP operation.TRP is an acronym for “Transmission-Reception Point”. A TRP is a nodecapable of transmission and reception. In the present context, multi-TRPoperation implies that the UE is configured for communication with aplurality of nodes such as macro-cells, small cells, pico-cells,femto-cells, remote radio heads, relay nodes, etc. For example, a UE maybe configured to communicate with two base stations in parallel (e.g.,with two gNBs or two eNBs), each of which hosts one or more cells.

In some embodiments, for multi-TRP operation, the reliability of aPhysical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) may be enhanced by oneemploying one or more enhancement mechanisms. For example, PDSCHaggregation (e.g., over multiple slots) may be employed for downlinktransmission to the UE, and may be dynamically controlled via DownlinkControl Information (DCI) transmitted by a TRP such as a base station.As another example, multiple beams may be configured for the same PDSCHwith multiple transmission occasions.

In some embodiments, the reliability of PUCCH transmission may beenhanced by employing one or more of the enhancement mechanisms hereindescribed. The enhancement mechanisms may be employed. e.g., in thecontext of multi-TRP operation. Alternatively, the enhancementmechanisms may be employed in the context of single TRP operation, ifdesired.

In some embodiments, a network element (e.g., a TRP such as a basestation) may provide an indication of PUCCH repetition to the UE. Inresponse to receiving the indication, the UE may configured itself toperform repeated transmissions of a PUCCH.

In some embodiments, a system design may take into consideration issuesrelated to existing PUCCH formats, e.g., the PUCCH formats that exist aspart of the 3GPP 5G NR standard.

In some embodiments, a system design may enhance the use of PUCCHspatial relation.

In some embodiments, a system design may enhance PUCCH power control.

It may be observed that N repetitions of a long format PUCCH may providebetter coverage (or higher probability of successful PUCCH decode at aTRP) than N repetitions of a short format PUCCH, assuming that bothformats carry the same number of payload bits.

When performing slot aggregation for PUCCH transmissions, latency may bean issue, especially in the context of multi-TRP operation. For example,the UE may be required to transmit a separate PUCCH to each of n_(TRP)TRPs. Thus, if the UE is constrained to transmit only one PUCCHrepetition per slot, and is configured with nrofSlots slots per PUCCH,the UE may require

nrofSlots·n _(TRP)

slots to complete the transmissions of n_(TRP) PUCCHs to the n_(TRP)respective TRPs, assuming temporally consecutive transmissions of thePUCCH transmissions. Thus, it is desirable to decrease the latency ofPUCCH transmissions to TRPs. One mechanism of achieving such a decreaseis to allow the transmission of a plurality of repetitions of a PUCCHwithin each configured slot.

Indication of PUCCH Repetition

In some embodiments, when PUCCH repetition is scheduled, the UE isallowed to operate in different PUCCH repetition modes. For example, anelement of the network (e.g., a TRP such as a base station) may selectone of the PUCCH repetition modes, and signal the selected mode to theUE. The PUCCH repetition modes may include one or more intra-slot modesand one or more inter-slot modes, e.g., as shown in FIG. 9.

The UE may be scheduled (or configured) to repeatedly transmit the PUCCHaccording to a pattern that spans one or more slots. In an inter-slotmode, only one repetition of the PUCCH is transmitted in each of theconfigured slots. In an intra-slot mode, more than one repetition of thePUCCH may occur within each slot configured slot.

In some embodiments of intra-slot repetition, successive repetitions ofa PUCCH may occur back to back, i.e., with no delay between the end ofone repetition and the beginning of the next. In other embodiments ofintra-slot repetition, a configured offset (or gap) may occur betweensuccessive repetitions of a PUCCH.

In a first intra-slot mode (Mode 1), the repetition pattern is notinterrupted at slot boundaries. Thus, a repetition of the pattern maystraddle a slot boundary. Or more generally, one or more of therepetitions in the repetition pattern may straddle one or morerespective slot boundaries.

In a second intra-slot mode (Mode 2), the repetition pattern isinterrupted at slot boundaries. None of the repetitions of the patternis allowed to straddle a slot boundary. For example, the repetitionpattern may be generated by repeating a subpattern in each of theconfigured slots. Each repetition of the subpattern occurs within thecorresponding slot. The subpattern may include two or more repetitionsof the PUCCH.

In an inter-slot repetition mode, repetitions of the PUCCH may betransmitted so that one repetition occurs in each of nrofSlotsconsecutive slots. Within each slot, the same time domain allocation maybe used for transmission of the respective PUCCH repetition.

In some embodiments, the PUCCH repetition mode can be configured by RRCsignaling transmitted from the network (e.g., from a base station) tothe UE. For example, the PUCCH repetition mode may be signaled as partof the PUCCH-Config. (To accommodate signaling of the PUCCH repetitionmode, the present patent disclosure contemplates modification of thePUCCH-Config as defined by the existing 3GPP 5G NR standard.)PUCCH-Config is a hierarchical data structure that includes one or moreinstances of PUCCH-FormatConfig. Each PUCCH-FormatConfig includesinformation for the configuration of a corresponding PUCCH format. Forexample, each instance of PUCCH-FormatConfig may include one or morePUCCH-Resource elements, to configure one or more respective PUCCHresources for the PUCCH format. (In this context, “resources” areresources in the time frequency domain.)

In some embodiments, the PUCCH repetition mode may be signaled as partof PUCCH Config, but not part of any PUCCH-FormatConfig. Thus, the PUCCHrepetition mode may apply to all PUCCH resources of all PUCCH formats.

In other embodiments, the PUCCH repetition mode may be signaled as partof a PUCCH-FormatConfig, but not part of any PUCCH-Resource element.Thus, the PUCCH repetition mode may apply to all the PUCCH resourcesconfigured for the PUCCH format indicated by the PUCCH-FormatConfig.Different PUCCH formats may be configured with different repetitionsmodes.

In other embodiments, the PUCCH repetition mode may be signaled as partof a PUCCH-Resource element, and thus, may apply to the correspondingPUCCH resource, but not to other PUCCH resources belonging to the samePUCCH format. Different PUCCH resources may be configured with differentPUCCH repetition modes.

In some embodiments, the following information element (IE) may betransmitted by a network element (e.g., by a base station) to the UE,and used to configure the PUCCH repetition mode. The UE may employ theconfigured PUCCH repetition mode when transmitting repetitions of aPUCCH. A TRP (e.g., a base station) may then know which PUCCH resourcescontains the transmitted PUCCH repetitions, and thus, capture andaccumulate those repetitions. The accumulation of repetitions allows theTRP to experience an increase in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in thePUCCH reception, and thereby, an improvement in the reliability ofdecoding the PUCCH.

In some embodiments, the information element may include anintraSlotRepetition field that indicates one of the intra-slotrepetition modes. In the context where there are two intra-slotrepetition modes. e.g., as described above, the intraSlotRepetitionfield may be defined by:

-   -   intraSlotRepetition ENUMERATED {mode1, mode2}.        The notation “X ENUMERATED {Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, . . . , Y_(L)}”        indicates that X is selected from the set {Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, . . . ,        Y_(L)}.

In some embodiments, the information element may also include anintraslotRepetitionOffset field that indicates the value of an offset(or gap) between successive repetitions of the PUCCH in an intra-slotrepetition mode. The value may be selected from a range of the form {0,1, 2, . . . , Offset_(MAX)}, where

Offset_(MAX) ≤n _(SPS) or

Offset_(MAX) ≤n _(SPS)−1, or

Offset_(MAX) ≤n _(SPS)−2.

where n_(SPS) is the number of symbols per slot. For example, in thecontext where the number of symbols per slot is 14, theintraslotRepetitionOffset field may be defined by:

-   -   intraslotRepetitionOffset INTEGER (0 . . . Offset_(MAX)),        where Offset_(MAX)≤13.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an intra-slot repetition offset. WhileFIG. 10 illustrates a repetition pattern that occurs within one slot, itshould be noted that a repetition pattern in an intra-slot mode maycover more than one slot, if configured by the network. In intra-slotmode 1, the offset between successive repetitions of the repetitionpattern may be respected regardless of slot boundaries. In intra-slotmode 2, the offset between successive repetitions may be respectedwithin each slot, but be disrupted at slot boundaries. (As noted above,in intra-slot mode 2, PUCCH repetitions are not allowed to straddle slotboundaries.)

In some embodiments, the information element may include aninterSlotRepetition field that indicates whether or not the inter-slotrepetition mode is enabled:

-   -   interSlotRepetition ENUMERATED {enabled}.        The UE may initialize the inter-slot repetition mode to the        disabled state. A TRP (such as a base station) may enable the        inter-slot repetition mode by sending the interSlotRepetition        field to the UE.

In some embodiments, when PUCCH intra-slot repetition is configured,intra-slot frequency hopping may be configured. Intra-slot frequencyhopping involves changing the frequency between successive repetitionsof the PUCCH, according to a configured (or predefined) frequencyhopping pattern. The UE transmits repetitions of the PUCCH at respectivefrequencies defined by the frequency hopping pattern. For example, FIG.11 illustrates frequency hopping for a repetition pattern including fourrepetitions of the PUCCH within one slot. The horizontal axis is time,and the vertical axis is frequency.

The PUCCH intra-slot frequency hopping may be configured, e.g., by RRCsignaling to the UE. Similar to the above discussion of RRC signaling toconfigured the PUCCH repetition mode, PUCCH intra-slot frequency hoppingmay be signaled in one of three places: (a) in PUCCH-Config, but not inany particular PUCCH-FormatConfig; (b) in a PUCCH-FormatConfig, but notin any particular PUCCH-Resource element; or (c) in a PUCCH-Resourceelement. Option (a) would configure frequency hopping for all PUCCHresources of all PUCCH formats. Option (b) would configure frequencyhopping for all PUCCH resources of the PUCCH format corresponding to thePUCCH-FormatConfig. Option (c) would configure frequency hopping for thePUCCH resource corresponding to the PUCCH-Resource element, but not forother PUCCH resources of the PUCCH format.

The following information element (IE) may be used to configure PUCCHintra-slot frequency hopping:

-   -   intraslotFrequencyHopping ENUMERATED {enabled}.        The UE may initialize intra-slot frequency happing to the        disabled state. To enable intra-slot frequency hopping, a        network element (e.g., a TRP such as a base station) may set the        intraslotFrequencyHopping IE equal to the enabled state.

In some embodiments, the number of PUCCH repetitions can be changed(e.g., dynamically changed) using a MAC-CE. A network element (e.g., aTRP such as a base station) may transmit a MAC-CE to the UE to changethe number of PUCCH repetitions in a PUCCH repetition pattern. FIG. 12illustrates one possible structure for such a MAC-CE. However, a widevariety of other structures may be employed. The MAC-CE may include oneor more or all of the following: a serving cell ID, an indication of abandwidth part (BWP), a PUCCH resource ID, and a repetition number. (Therepetition number is the number of PUCCH repetitions in the repetitionpattern.) The MAC-CE may also include one or more reserved bits. (Rdenotes a reserved bit.)

In one particular embodiment, the serving cell ID may be 5 bits inlength, the BWP indication may be 2 bits in length, the PUCCH resourceID may be 7 bits in the length, and the repetition number may be 8 bitsin length. However, it should be understood that each of the abovementioned fields of the MAC-CE may take any of a variety of differentvalues, e.g., depending on application scenario, channel conditions,interference environment, or network configuration.

In some embodiments, a MAC-CE format may be used to update a pluralityof PUCCH resources with the same number of PUCCH repetitions ordifferent numbers of PUCCH repetitions. For example, the network mayconfigure a list of PUCCH resources to be used (or potentially used) forPUCCH repetition. When the list is configured, and one of the PUCCHresources in the list is indicated in the MAC-CE (e.g., in the PUCCHResource ID field of the MAC-CE), the UE may update all the PUCCHresources of the list to use the same number of PUCCH repetitions whenit transmits PUCCH repetitions on any of those PUCCH resources.

In some embodiments, a MAC-CE format may be used to update all PUCCHs ina list of component carriers (CCs) with the same number of PUCCHrepetitions. For example, the network may configure a list of componentcarriers for use (or potential use) by the UE. When the componentcarrier list is configured, and one of the component carriers in thelist is indicated in the MAC-CE (e.g., in the Serving Cell ID field ofthe MAC-CE), the UE may update all the component carriers of the list touse the same number of PUCCH repetitions when it transmits PUCCHrepetitions on any of those component carriers.

In some embodiments, a MAC-CE format may be used to update all PUCCHs inall BWPs in a list of BWPs with the same number of PUCCH repetitions.For example, the network may configure a list of BWPs for use (orpotential use) by the UE. When the list is configured, and one of theBWPs in the list is indicated in the MAC-CE (e.g., the BWP indicationfield of the MAC-CE), the UE may update all the BWPs of the list to usethe same number of PUCCH repetitions when it transmits PUCCH repetitionson any of those BWPs.

In some embodiments, PUCCH slot aggregation may be allowed for shortPUCCH formats (e.g., PUCCH formats 0 and 2 of FIG. 8) as well as longPUCCH formats.

In some embodiments, one of the following restrictions may be applied tointra-slot PUCCH repetition and/or inter-slot PUCCH repetition.

In some embodiments, for long PUCCH formats (e.g., formats 1, 3 and 4 ofFIG. 8), there may be three alternatives. In a first alternative, anetwork is allowed to use both intra-slot and inter-slot PUCCHrepetition. (Different UEs may be configured to use different repetitionmodes. For example, one UE may be configured to use intra-slotrepetition while another UE is configured to use inter-slot repetition.Furthermore, a UE may be configured to use both intra-slot repetitionand inter-slot repetition, e.g., for different long PUCCH formats.) In asecond alternative, the network is only allowed to use inter-slotrepetition. In a third alternative, the network is allowed to use atleast inter-slot repetition; and if the number of symbols in a PUCCH oflong format is less than X, it can also use intra-slot repetition.

In some embodiments, for short PUCCH formats (e.g., formats 0 and 2),there may be two alternatives. In a first alternative, the network isallowed to use both intra-slot and inter-slot PUCCH repetition. In asecond alternative, the network is only allowed to use intra-slotrepetition.

In some embodiments, when PUCCH repetition is configured, the basestation (e.g., the gNB or eNB) may configure PUCCH spatial consistencypatterns to allow the UE to perform precoding cycling or beam cycling,to achieve better reliability.

In some embodiments, the total number N of PUCCH repetitions can bedivided into M segments, with each segments containing K PUCCHrepetitions: N=M*K. The K PUCCH repetitions of a segment need not occurback to back (i.e., with zero offset between repetitions) in the timedomain. The PUCCH repetitions within a segment may use the same beam (orprecoding). (This property of using the same beam/precoding within asegment is a form of spatial consistency.) However, the PUCCHrepetitions within a different segment may use a different beam (ordifferent precoding). In other words, different segments may userespectively different beams (or different precodings). FIG. 13illustrates an example with two segments, each with two PUCCHrepetitions: M=2, K=2. The first and second PUCCH repetitions use a beamB1. The third and fourth PUCCH repetitions use a beam B2, different fromB1.

In some embodiments, the network (NW) may configure the repetitionpattern by signaling the (M, K) parameter pair to the UE, e.g., via RRCsignaling, MAC-CE signaling, or DCI signaling. (DCI is an acronym forDownlink Control Information.)

In some embodiments, when the base station (e.g., gNB) is allowed toconfigure the PUCCH spatial consistency patterns to allow the UE toperform precoding/beam cycling (to achieve better reliability), the UEmay indicate to the gNB the preferred (M, K) configuration. The basestation (or a network element) may select a PUCCH spatial consistencypattern taking the preferred (M,K) configuration into account, andsignal the selected pattern to the UE.

In some embodiments, the UE may inform the base station (e.g., the gNBor eNB) whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when the totaltransmit power changes between two PUCCH repetitions or when the totaltransmit power changes within a PUCCH repetition.

In some embodiments, transmit power control information may be updated(by the base station) at the beginning of each slot (or at the beginningof certain slots), and thus, the transmit power level of the UE maychange at slot boundaries. The UE's transmitter might not be able tomaintain phase continuity across a slot boundary where the transmitpower changes. Such phase discontinuity may occur, e.g., when tworepetitions of the PUCCH separated by a slot boundary, or when a PUCCHrepetition that straddles a slot boundary in intra-slot mode 1.

In some embodiments, the UE may inform the base station (e.g., the gNBor eNB) whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when the UEexperiences a change in duplexing direction between two PUCCHrepetitions. For example, the duplexing direction may change from uplinkto downlink, and then back to uplink. In other words, two successivePUCCH repetitions, which are by definition uplink transmissions, may beseparated by a period of downlink transmission. The UE's transmitter mayor may not be able to maintain phase continuity across such interveningperiods of downlink transmission.

In some embodiments, when PUCCH repetition is configured, each TRP of aplurality of TRPs (e.g., base stations) may be logically configured tomap to a corresponding group of PUCCH repetition occasions. For eachTRP, the UE may transmit a corresponding PUCCH to the TRP using thecorresponding group of PUCCH repetition occasions. Each group may beconfigured with a corresponding timing advance and/or a correspondingpower control level. The UE transmits the PUCCH to the TRP using thecorresponding timing advance and/or the corresponding power controllevel. (The power control level determines or influences the transmitpower.) The TRPs may have different distances to the UE. Thus, differenttiming advances and different transmission powers may be use to performtransmission of PUCCH repetitions to different TRPs.

In some embodiments, for each group of PUCCH repetition occasions, thefollowing information elements (IEs) may be independently configured: atiming advance (TA) for uplink transmission; and PUCCH-PowerControl.

In one set of embodiments, a method 1400 for operating a user equipment(UE) device may include the operations shown in FIG. 14. (The method1400 may also include any subset of the features, elements or operationsdescribed above.) The method may be performed by processing circuitry ofthe UE device, e.g., by the processing element 610 of user equipment600.

At 1410, the method may include transmitting a plurality of repetitionsof a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) over one or more slots. Forexample, the processing circuitry may direct the radio subsystem 605 (ofFIG. 6) to transmit the plurality of repetitions. The one or more slotsused for said transmitting may be configured by a network element, e.g.,by a base station such as a gNB or eNB.

In some embodiments, two or more of the repetitions may occur in a firstof the one or more slots. Furthermore, a second of the one or more slotsmay include two or more of the repetitions. See the above discussion of“intra-slot repetition”. e.g., in connection with the intra-slot modes 1and 2 of FIG. 9.

In some embodiments, the one or more slots may comprise a plurality ofslots. In one or more of these embodiments, a time between successiverepetitions of the plurality of repetitions is constant and notinterrupted at slot boundaries, e.g., as discussed above in connectionwith “intra-slot repetition mode 1”.

In some embodiments, the one or more slots may comprise a plurality ofslots. In one or more of these embodiments, a time between successiverepetitions of the plurality of repetitions is constant within each ofthe slots, and none of the repetitions of the plurality of repetitionsstraddles a slot boundary, e.g., as discussed above in connection with“intra-slot repetition mode 2”.

In some embodiments, a mode of transmitting the plurality of repetitionsis determined by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) configuration messagereceived from a network element, e.g., as variously discussed above.

In some embodiments, the RRC configuration message also indicates a timeoffset between successive repetitions of the plurality of repetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1400 may also include receivingconfiguration information enabling frequency hopping, wherein saidtransmitting the plurality of repetitions of the PUCCH is performed inresponse to said receiving.

In some embodiments, the method 1400 may also include, prior to saidtransmitting the plurality of repetitions, transmitting to a network(e.g., to a base station) an indication of whether the UE can ensurephase continuity when the transmit power changes between successiverepetitions of said plurality of repetitions. If the UE cannot ensuresuch phase continuity, the base station may independently perform thePUCCH estimation for different portions of the PUCCH repetition patternwhen UE transmission phase may change between different portions due totransmit power change and/or duplexing direction change. Conversely, ifthe UE can ensure such phase continuity, the base station may jointlyperform the PUCCH estimation using different portions of the PUCCHrepetition pattern for better estimation accuracy.

In some embodiments, the method 1400 may also include, prior to saidtransmitting the plurality of repetitions, transmitting to a network anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when thetransmit power changes within a repetition of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1400 may also include, prior to saidtransmitting the plurality of repetitions, transmitting to a network anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when duplexingdirection changes between successive repetitions of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1400 may also include receiving a MediumAccess Control (MAC) message from a network that dynamically configuresthe UE to perform said transmitting the plurality of repetitions of thePUCCH, e.g., as variously described above. The MAC message may include anumber of the repetitions of the PUCCH to be transmitted by the UE.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include the cell ID of aserving cell to which the UE is to transmit the repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include identification ofa bandwidth part in which the UE is to transmit the repetitions. Abandwidth part is a contiguous portion of the bandwidth of a carrier.The carrier bandwidth may include one or more configured bandwidth parts(up to maximum number of bandwidth parts).

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include a PUCCH resourceID for a PUCCH resource that is to be used by the UE to transmit therepetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message is used by the UE to update morethan one PUCCH resource with said number of repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message is used by the UE to update allPUCCHs in a plurality of component carriers (CCs) with said number ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message is used by the UE to update allPUCCHs in a plurality of bandwidth parts with said number ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, said transmitting a plurality of repetitions of thePUCCH may include transmitting N repetitions of the PUCCH. The Nrepetitions of the PUCCH may be partitioned into M segments, with eachof the M segments including a corresponding K of the N repetitions,e.g., as variously described above. Different segments of the M segmentsmay be associated with different beams or precodings. For each segment,the K repetitions within the segment may be transmitted with theassociated beam or precoding. See, e.g., the above discussion inconnection with FIG. 13.

In some embodiments, M and K are configured by configuration informationreceived from a network element (e.g., a base station such as a gNB oran eNB).

In some embodiments, the method 1400 may also include transmitting apreferred value of M and a preferred value of K to the network (e.g., toa base station of the network) prior to said transmitting N repetitionsof the PUCCH. The network may select values of M and K using thepreferred values, and transmit an indication of the selected values tothe UE, prior to said transmitting N repetitions of the PUCCH. The UEconfigures itself to use the selected value when transmitting the Nrepetitions.

In some embodiments, said transmitting the plurality of repetitions ofthe PUCCH is performed according to an inter-slot repetition mode and ashort PUCCH format.

In some embodiments, when a PUCCH format of the PUCCH referred to at1410 is a long format, the UE is configurable to perform saidtransmitting according to an intra-slot repetition mode or an inter-slotrepetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a PUCCH format of the PUCCH referred to at1410 is a long format, the UE is configurable to perform saidtransmitting only according to an inter-slot repetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a PUCCH format of the PUCCH referred to at1410 is a long format, the UE is configurable to perform saidtransmitting according to an inter-slot repetition mode or according toan intra-slot repetition mode if the number of symbols in the PUCCH isless than a threshold value.

In some embodiments, when a PUCCH format of the PUCCH referred to at1410 is a short format, the UE is configurable to perform saidtransmitting according to an intra-slot repetition mode or an inter-slotrepetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a PUCCH format of the PUCCH referred to at1410 is a short format, the UE is configurable to perform saidtransmitting only according to an intra-slot repetition mode.

In some embodiments, the method 1400 may also include, aftertransmitting the plurality of repetitions of the PUCCH, transmitting asecond plurality repetitions of a second PUCCH in one or more additionalslots. (The plurality of repetitions referred to at 1410 may be referredto here as the first plurality, to distinguish from the secondplurality; and the PUCCH referred to at 1410 may be referred to here asthe first PUCCH, to distinguish from the second PUCCH.) The firstplurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH may be transmitted using afirst set of transmission parameters, and the second plurality ofrepetitions of the second PUCCH may be transmitted using a second set oftransmission parameters.

In some embodiments, the method may also include receiving configurationinformation indicating the first set and second set of transmissionparameters, e.g., as variously described above.

In some embodiments, the first set of transmission parameters mayinclude a first timing advance and/or a first transmission power, andthe second set of transmission parameters may include a second timingadvance and/or a second transmission power.

In one set of embodiments, a method 1500 for operating a base station(BS) may include the operations shown in FIG. 15. (The method 1500 mayalso include any subset of the features, elements or operationsdescribed above.) The method may be performed by processing circuitry ofthe base station, e.g., by the processing element 710 of base station700. The base station may be realized, e.g., by an eNB of 3GPP LTE or bya gNB of 3GPP 5GNR.

At 1510, the method 1500 may include receiving, from a user equipment(UE), a plurality of repetitions of a Physical Uplink Control Channel(PUCCH) over one or more slots. The base station may configure to theone or more slots to be used for said transmitting the PUCCHrepetitions, e.g., by sending configuration information to the UE.

The base station may accumulate the received repetitions of the PUCCH(or a subset thereof) to obtain an resultant signal, and decode theresultant signal to recover the payload bits of the PUCCH. Theaccumulation of repetitions allows the base station to experience ahigher probability of successful decoding of the payload bits than ifdecoding were based on a single transmission of the PUCCH.

In some embodiments, two or more of the repetitions may occur in a firstof the one or more slots. Furthermore, a second of the one or more slotsmay include two or more of the repetitions. See the above discussion of“intra-slot repetition”, e.g., in connection with the intra-slot modes 1and 2 of FIG. 9.

In some embodiments, the one or more slots may comprise a plurality ofslots. In one or more of these embodiments, a time between successiverepetitions of the plurality of repetitions of the plurality ofrepetitions is constant and not interrupted at slot boundaries, e.g., asdiscussed above in connection with “intra-slot repetition mode 1”.

In some embodiments, the one or more slots may comprise a plurality ofslots. In one or more of these embodiments, a time between successiverepetitions of the plurality of repetitions is constant within each ofthe slots, and none of the repetitions of the plurality of repetitionsstraddles a slot boundary, e.g., as discussed above in connection with“intra-slot repetition mode 2”.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may include transmitting a RadioResource Control (RRC) configuration message to the UE. The RRCconfiguration message may direct the UE to transmit the plurality ofrepetitions of the PUCCH, e.g., as variously described above.

In some embodiments, the RRC configuration message may also indicate atime offset between successive repetitions of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may also include transmittingconfiguration information to the UE, where the configuration informationdirects the UE to perform said transmitting the plurality of repetitionswith frequency hopping, e.g., as variously described above.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may also include, prior to saidreceiving the plurality of repetitions, receiving, from the UE, anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when the UE'stransmit power changes between successive repetitions of said pluralityof repetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may also include, prior to saidreceiving the plurality of repetitions, receiving, from the UE, anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when the UE'stransmit power changes within a repetition of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may also include, prior to saidreceiving the plurality of repetitions, receiving, from the UE, anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when duplexingdirection changes between successive repetitions of the plurality ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may also include transmitting, tothe UE, a Medium Access Control (MAC) message that dynamicallyconfigures the UE to transmit the plurality of repetitions of the PUCCH,e.g., as variously described above. The MAC message may include a numberof repetitions of the PUCCH to be transmitted by the UE.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include the cell ID of aserving cell to which the UE is directed to transmit the repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include identification ofa bandwidth part in which the UE is to transmit the repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include a PUCCH resourceID for a PUCCH resource that is to be used by the UE to transmit therepetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may direct the UE to update morethan one PUCCH resource with said number of repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may direct the UE to update allPUCCHs in a plurality of component carriers (CCs) with said number ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may direct the UE to update allPUCCHs in a plurality of bandwidth parts with said number ofrepetitions.

In some embodiments, said receiving a plurality of repetitions of thePUCCH may include receiving N repetitions of the PUCCH. The Nrepetitions of the PUCCH may be partitioned into M segments, with eachof the M segments including a corresponding K of the N repetitions.Different segments of the M segments may be associated with differentbeams or precodings. See, e.g., FIG. 13 and the associated description.

In some embodiments, for each of the M segments, the base station mayindependently estimate the PUCCH based on the K repetitions of thatsegment. In other embodiments, the base station may estimate the PUCCHfrom the K repetitions of the segment whose average signal power level(or signal-to-noise ratio) is the largest. More generally, the basestation may order the segments according to average signal power level(or signal-to-noise ratio), and independently estimate the PUCCH fromeach of the one or more segments whose average signal power level (orsignal-to-noise ratio) are the largest. In yet other embodiments, thebase station may estimate the PUCCH based on K repetitions of a selectedone of the segments, e.g., a segment that has been signaled to the UEprior to the transmission of the PUCCH repetitions.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may also include transmittingconfiguration information to the UE prior to said receiving Nrepetitions of the PUCCH, where the configuration information indicatesM and K to the UE.

In some embodiments, the method 1500 may also include receiving apreferred value of M and a preferred value of K from the UE prior tosaid receiving N repetitions of the PUCCH.

In some embodiments, said receiving the plurality of repetitions of thePUCCH is performed according to an inter-slot repetition mode and ashort PUCCH format.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a long format, thebase station is operable to configure the UE to transmit the pluralityof repetitions of the PUCCH according to an intra-slot repetition modeor an inter-slot repetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a PUCCH format of the PUCCH is a long format,the base station is operable to configure the UE to transmit theplurality of repetitions of the PUCCH only according to an inter-slotrepetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a long format, thebase station is operable to configure the UE to transmit the pluralityof repetitions of the PUCCH according to an inter-slot repetition modeor according to an intra-slot repetition mode if the number of symbolsin the PUCCH is less than a threshold value.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a short format, thebase station is operable to configure the UE to transmit the pluralityof repetitions of the PUCCH according to an intra-slot repetition modeor an inter-slot repetition mode.

In some embodiments, when a format of the PUCCH is a short format, thebase station is operable to configure the UE to transmit the pluralityof repetitions of the PUCCH only according to an intra-slot repetitionmode.

As noted at 1510, the base station may transmit a plurality ofrepetitions of a PUCCH over one or more slots. In the presentdiscussion, we refer to this plurality as the “first plurality” and thisPUCCH as the “first PUCCH”. In some embodiments, the method 1500 mayalso include, prior to said transmitting the first plurality ofrepetitions of the first PUCCH, transmitting, to the UE, configurationinformation indicating a first set and a second set of transmissionparameters. After receiving the first plurality of repetitions of thefirst PUCCH, a second plurality repetitions of a second PUCCH may bereceived in one or more additional slots. The first set of transmissionparameters may include a first timing advance and/or a firsttransmission power for the UE's transmission of the first plurality ofrepetitions of the first PUCCH, and the second set of transmissionparameters may include a second timing advance and/or a secondtransmission power for the UE's transmission of the second plurality ofrepetitions of the second PUCCH.

In one set of embodiments, a method for operating a base station (BS)may include dynamically configuring a user equipment (UE) to performrepetition of transmission of a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH)by transmitting a Medium Access Control (MAC) message to the UE, whereinthe MAC message includes a number of repetitions of the PUCCH to betransmitted by the UE.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include the cell ID of aserving cell to which the UE is to transmit the PUCCH repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include identification ofa bandwidth part in which the UE is to transmit the PUCCH repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may also include a PUCCH resourceID for a PUCCH resource that is to be used by the UE to transmit thePUCCH repetitions.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may be used by the UE to updatemore than one PUCCH resource for said number of repetitions of thePUCCH.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may be used by the UE to update allPUCCH in a list of component carriers (CCs) with said number ofrepetitions of the PUCCH.

In some embodiments, the MAC message may be used by the UE to update allPUCCH in all bandwidth parts in a list of bandwidth parts with saidnumber of repetitions of the PUCCH.

In one set of embodiments, a method for operating a user equipment (UE)may include transmitting N repetitions of a Physical Uplink ControlChannel (PUCCH). The N repetitions of the PUCCH may be partitioned intoM segments, with each of the M segments including a corresponding K ofthe N repetitions. Different segments of the M segments may beassociated with different beams or precodings. For each segment, the Krepetitions within the segment may be transmitted with the sameassociated beam or precoding.

In some embodiments, M and K may be configured by configurationinformation received from a network.

In some embodiments, the method may also include transmitting apreferred value of M and a preferred value of K to the network prior tosaid transmitting N repetitions of the PUCCH.

In one set of embodiments, a method for operating a user equipment (UE)may include: for a first group of repetition occasions, transmittingfirst repetitions of a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) at therespective repetitions occasions of the first group, wherein the firstrepetitions are transmitted using a first set of transmissionparameters; and for a second group of repetition occasions, transmittingsecond repetitions of the PUCCH at the respective repetitions occasionsof the second group, wherein the second repetitions are transmittedusing a second set of transmission parameters.

In some embodiments, the method may also include receiving configurationinformation indicating the first set and second set of transmissionparameters.

In some embodiments, the first set of transmission parameters mayinclude a first timing advance and/or a first transmission power, andthe second set of transmission parameters may include a second timingadvance and/or a second transmission power.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be realized in any of variousforms. For example, some embodiments may be realized as acomputer-implemented method, a computer-readable memory medium, or acomputer system. Other embodiments may be realized using one or morecustom-designed hardware devices such as ASICs. Still other embodimentsmay be realized using one or more programmable hardware elements such asFPGAs.

In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable memory mediummay be configured so that it stores program instructions and/or data,where the program instructions, if executed by a computer system, causethe computer system to perform a method. e.g., any of a methodembodiments described herein, or, any combination of the methodembodiments described herein, or, any subset of any of the methodembodiments described herein, or, any combination of such subsets.

In some embodiments, a computer system may be configured to include aprocessor (or a set of processors) and a memory medium, where the memorymedium stores program instructions, where the processor is configured toread and execute the program instructions from the memory medium, wherethe program instructions are executable to implement any of the variousmethod embodiments described herein (or, any combination of the methodembodiments described herein, or, any subset of any of the methodembodiments described herein, or, any combination of such subsets). Thecomputer system may be realized in any of various forms. For example,the computer system may be a personal computer (in any of its variousrealizations), a workstation, a computer on a card, anapplication-specific computer in a box, a server computer, a clientcomputer, a hand-held device, a user equipment (UE) device, a tabletcomputer, a wearable computer, etc.

Any of the methods described herein for operating a user equipment (UE)in communication with a base station (or transmission-reception point)may be the basis of a corresponding method for operating a base station(or transmission-reception point), by interpreting each message/signal Xreceived by the UE in the downlink as a message/signal X transmitted bythe base station (or transmission-reception point), and eachmessage/signal Y transmitted in the uplink by the UE as a message/signalY received by the base station (or transmission-reception point).

It is well understood that the use of personally identifiableinformation should follow privacy policies and practices that aregenerally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmentalrequirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular,personally identifiable information data should be managed and handledso as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use,and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.

Although the embodiments above have been described in considerabledetail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent tothose skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated.It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace allsuch variations and modifications.

We claim:
 1. A method for operating a base station (BS), the methodcomprising: receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a first plurality ofrepetitions of a first Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) over oneor more slots.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more of therepetitions occur in a first of the one or more slots.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more slots comprise a plurality of slots,wherein a time between successive repetitions of the first plurality ofrepetitions is constant and not interrupted at slot boundaries.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the one or more slots comprise a plurality ofslots, wherein a time between successive repetitions of the firstplurality of repetitions is constant within each of the slots, whereinnone of the repetitions of the first plurality straddles a slotboundary.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: transmitting aRadio Resource Control (RRC) configuration message to the UE, whereinsaid RRC configuration message directs the UE to transmit the firstplurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH, wherein the RRCconfiguration message also indicates a time offset between successiverepetitions of the first plurality of repetitions.
 6. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising: transmitting configuration information tothe UE, wherein the configuration information directs the UE to performsaid transmitting the first plurality of repetitions with frequencyhopping.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to saidreceiving the first plurality of repetitions, receiving, from the UE, anindication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuity when the UE'stransmit power changes between successive repetitions of said firstplurality of repetitions.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:prior to said receiving the first plurality of repetitions, receiving,from the UE, an indication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuitywhen the UE's transmit power changes within a repetition of the firstplurality of repetitions.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:prior to said receiving the first plurality of repetitions, receiving,from the UE, an indication of whether the UE can ensure phase continuitywhen duplexing direction changes between successive repetitions of thefirst plurality of repetitions.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting, to the UE, a Medium Access Control (MAC)message that dynamically configures the UE to transmit the firstplurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH, wherein the MAC messageincludes a number of the repetitions of the first PUCCH to betransmitted by the UE.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the MACmessage also includes one or more of the following: the cell ID of aserving cell to which the UE is directed to transmit the repetitions;identification of a bandwidth part in which the UE is to transmit therepetitions; a PUCCH resource ID for a PUCCH resource that is to be usedby the UE to transmit the repetitions.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the MAC message directs the UE to: update more than one PUCCHresource with said number of repetitions; or update all PUCCHs in aplurality of component carriers (CCs) with said number of repetitions;or update all PUCCHs in a plurality of bandwidth parts with said numberof repetitions.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving afirst plurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH includes receiving Nrepetitions of the first PUCCH, wherein the N repetitions of the firstPUCCH are partitioned into M segments, with each of the M segmentsincluding a corresponding K of the N repetitions, wherein differentsegments of the M segments are associated with different beams orprecodings.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving apreferred value of M and a preferred value of K from the UE prior tosaid receiving N repetitions of the first PUCCH.
 15. The method of claim1, further comprising: prior to said transmitting the first plurality ofrepetitions of the first PUCCH, transmitting, to the UE, configurationinformation indicating a first set and a second set of transmissionparameters; and after receiving the first plurality of repetitions ofthe first PUCCH, receiving a second plurality repetitions of a secondPUCCH in one or more additional slots, wherein the first set oftransmission parameters includes a first timing advance and/or a firsttransmission power for the UE's transmission of the first plurality ofrepetitions of the first PUCCH, wherein the second set of transmissionparameters includes a second timing advance and/or a second transmissionpower for the UE's transmission of the second plurality of repetitionsof the second PUCCH.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said receivingthe first plurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH is performedaccording to an inter-slot repetition mode and a short PUCCH format. 17.The method of claim 1, wherein, when a PUCCH format of the first PUCCHis a long format: the base station is operable to configure the UE totransmit the first plurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH accordingto an intra-slot repetition mode or an inter-slot repetition mode; orthe base station is operable to configure the UE to transmit the firstplurality of repetitions of the first PUCCH only according to aninter-slot repetition mode; or the base station is operable to configurethe UE to transmit the first plurality of repetitions of the first PUCCHaccording to an inter-slot repetition mode or according to an intra-slotrepetition mode if the number of symbols in the first PUCCH is less thana threshold value.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein, when a PUCCHformat of the first PUCCH is a short format: the base station isoperable to configure the UE to transmit the first plurality ofrepetitions of the first PUCCH according to an intra-slot repetitionmode or an inter-slot repetition mode; or the base station is operableto configure the UE to transmit the first plurality of repetitions ofthe first PUCCH only according to an intra-slot repetition mode.
 19. Anon-transitory memory medium storing program instructions, wherein theprogram instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, cause theprocessing circuitry to perform the method of any one of claims 1through
 18. 20. A base station comprising: a radio subsystem; processingcircuitry coupled to the radio subsystem; and memory storing programinstructions, wherein the program instructions, when executed by theprocessing circuitry, cause the base station to perform the method ofany one of claims 1 through 18.